How to care for the “gossip woman” flower (tradescantia): minimum effort and maximum beauty

Tradescantia (Tradescantia) is a representative of the Commeline family. The birthplace of the plant is considered to be America. The flower selects regions with a temperate and tropical climate. The plant got its name in honor of the British John Tradescant - a naturalist, together with his son, was the first to describe a flower.

In indoor floriculture, the plant has gained immense popularity. And all thanks to its unpretentiousness. The flower can adapt to any conditions, forgives the owner inattention and very rarely "naughty". The perfect "pet"!

Botanical Description

Tradescantia is an evergreen short perennial. The plant also blooms on the windowsill, but in indoor floriculture it is valued not for inflorescences, but for the decorative leaves.

• The stalks. Juicy bright green stems, on which the nodes are visible, reach a meter. Stem shoots do not wood, bend well. They are too weak to climb up like creepers, so they creep.
• Leaves. Sheets are the pride of tradescantia. They are located next. The shape of the leaf plate depends on the variety: there are egg-shaped leaves, similar to an ellipse, pointed like a blade. In most specimens, the leaves are expanded at the base of the stem. The variety of color of the sheet canvas is impressive - from bright green to silver and purple. In some varieties, the leaves are variegated - with reddish, white, yellow "blots" and stripes.
• Flowers The plant blooms for about four months. Small buds appear at the tips of the stems. The flowers have thin petals, they can be pink, blue, purple, white.

Home views

There are about a hundred varieties of tradescantia, but most of them can be found only in tropical and subtropical forests. There are not so many species suitable for home cultivation, however, breeders have tried to create varieties.

Tradescantia is often used for landscaping apartments, so for many the flower seems familiar, familiar and uninteresting. Do not make hasty conclusions, there are varieties that are able to surprise with their appearance. With a variety and features of popular varieties, a table will help.

Table - Popular indoor varieties of tradescantia and their features

Caring for Tradescantia: creating the right climate

“Gossip of Women” is an unpretentious plant. How to care for tradescantia after purchase, even a person who has just begun to comprehend the science of growing flowers will be able to figure it out. "Pet" is able to adapt to any conditions of detention, requires a minimum of attention, for which he became the "favorite" of gardeners. But you still need to know and follow some rules, they are extremely simple.

Location, lighting

Bright lighting or dense shadow - tradescantia will grow under any conditions. However, it is better to choose a place for her where there is a lot of light, but it is scattered. Direct sunlight can leave burns on the leaves. If a variegated beauty “lives” in your house, then keep in mind that she needs much more light: in plants deprived of the sun, the leaves become monophonic, decorative stripes and stains disappear. One has only to "settle the matter", how variegation will return.

Tradescantia is best placed on a western or eastern window, although a hardy plant will not die on the south or north. In summer, the flower can be brought to the balcony, the main thing is that the sun does not shine directly on it and drafts do not "walk" on the balcony.

Temperature mode

Tradescantia is undemanding in everything. She calmly tolerates any temperature regime, although there are recommendations for temperature indicators. In the summer, it is better to keep the plant in a room where the temperature is kept at +24 ° C. In winter, it is advisable to transfer the flower to a room with a temperature of +12 ° C. However, if there is no way to do this, do not worry: the tradescantia normally wintered at higher temperatures. Coolness is also not terrible for the plant, the main thing is that the thermometer does not fall below + 7 ° C.

Watering Rules

With the advent of spring, the tradescantia is watered abundantly and often, preventing the complete drying out of the upper layer. It is important to avoid stagnation of water: after half an hour after irrigation, check the sump; if there is water, drain. With a cool wintering, the watering can should be taken no more than once every four days: the substrate should dry. It is recommended to use soft water, which settles for a couple of days.

Humidity requirements

Tradescantia does not have special requirements for air humidity. But in the heat will be glad to frequent spraying. If wintering takes place at temperatures above + 10 ° C, then do not hide the spray gun far: spray the plant once every seven days. The procedure must be carried out taking into account the characteristics of plants. Instances with leaves pubescent from below are sprayed carefully, trying to prevent moisture from entering the bottom of the sheet. There are varieties in which the leaves are completely pubescent.They can not be sprayed.

Flowering: how to achieve whether you need special attention

The flowering period at the tradescantia is long. Flowers appear in April, and can disappear in late autumn. It all depends on the variety. In most varieties, flowers are inconspicuous, so it is not for their sake that flower growers grow a plant, but because of decorative leaves.

It’s always interesting to see how a “pet” blooms, especially if there have never been such “tenants” in a house before. Want to achieve flowering tradescantia? It is necessary to establish a regime of soil moisture. For this, the "pet" will thank abundant flowering. If the plant does not bloom even after this, perhaps it lacks light. This often happens with white-flowered tradescantia. This variety is the most shade-hardy, so it is often grown in the back of the room. But there it will not bloom: the buds of this species appear exclusively when the flowerpot is located in a sunny place.

Young specimens do not bloom: the first flowers appear only in the third year of the plant's life. Special care for the tradescantia during flowering is not required, which is another plus in favor of this undemanding "pet."

How to feed: green and variegated

To tradescantia actively developed, it should be fertilized. Top dressing should be done according to the rules - the only way it will benefit. Be sure to consider whether the type of tradescantia is green or variegated.

• Green During the growing season, frequent “feeding” is required - every ten days. Fertilizer alternate, changing mineral to organic. With the onset of autumn, the amount of recharge is halved. If the plant does not retire in the winter and continues to grow, then it is also necessary to introduce “usefulness”, however, no more than once a month.
• Variegated. Such tradescantia is suitable only for mineral recharge. If you use organic compounds, then the original color of the leaves may disappear. With the onset of cold weather, the growth of variegated varieties slows down: “food” is given once a month and a half and the dose is reduced by half.

We form a plant: pruning and pinching

Tradescantia quickly loses its decorative effect. After wintering, the plant looks unsightly, its stems are exposed. Fighting aging is simple: you need to regularly trim the plant. Indoor flower tolerates this procedure well, after it it begins to actively develop. Plant formation begins after the first wintering. Prior to this, it is advisable not to touch the "pet", and the need is unlikely to arise. The first pruning should be minimal, then - at the request of the grower.

Pruning is best combined with a transplant. But even after the "housewarming" one must not forget to "cut" the plant. In order for the tradescantia to look well-groomed, its stems are cut several times a year, remove exposed areas, dried leaves. To determine when pruning is needed is simple: the shoots have become too long and bare spots have appeared on them - it's time to take on scissors. The tool should first be wiped with alcohol.

Experienced growers recommend regularly pinching the tradescantia. This procedure stimulates bushiness, the appearance of lateral processes, which increases the decorativeness of the plant.

The subtleties of transplantation

To tradescantia pleased with its appearance, it must be regularly transplanted. Young plants require an annual transplant. Adult specimens are relocated to a new "house" approximately every three years. The procedure is carried out after wintering. The plant is pre-cut. During the transplant, you need to carefully inspect the roots, checking them for rot. Detected damaged areas must be removed.

Tradescantia after transplantation is not "capricious", so you can carry out the procedure and unscheduled if there is such a need. “Indications” for transplanting out of turn are:

• drying stems;
• loss of leaf decorativeness;
• proliferation of roots, they are visible through the drainage hole.

It’s easy to transplant the tradescantia correctly, but you need to take into account some nuances.

• Pot selection. Properly selected flowerpot is the key to successful cultivation of tradescantia. Choose a pot according to the size of the root system. The new flowerpot should be only 3 cm wider than the previous one, otherwise the plant will spend all its strength on building up the root system.
• Drainage. The drainage layer will protect against root decay. Be sure to use it when growing tradescantia. Typically, the role of drainage is assigned to expanded clay.
• Priming. The plant is undemanding to the soil. The only condition is that it should be light, breathable. You can buy a ready-made substrate or make up the soil yourself by mixing leafy (2 parts), turf (1), humus soil (1), sand (half a part).

Reproduction: 3 ways

Propagating tradescantia at home is very simple. There are three methods of reproduction - seeds, cuttings, dividing the bush. Each of them has its own nuances. Cutting is considered the simplest, the most difficult and time-consuming - sowing seeds.

Bush division

Features Quick way. It can be carried out only during transplantation, provided that it has grown sufficiently. It requires certain skills from the grower - it is important to carefully divide the bush.

Action algorithm

1. Remove the bush from the pot. Free the roots from an earthen coma.
2. Using a sharp knife, divide the bush in half.
3. Plant the divided parts in different pots.
4. The first two weeks, keep the plants in partial shade, water moderately.

Cuttings

Features Growing tradescantia from cuttings is possible at any time of the year. They take root quickly enough: after about a month and a half, you can get a lush plant.

Action algorithm

1. Prepare a soil mixture of sand, compost, humus (all in equal amounts).
2. Plant chopped cuttings in the soil. Plant three to five cuttings in one pot.
3. Seed the cuttings when they grow, and the pot will become cramped for them.

Seed planting

Features Long multi-step method. Requires temperature support. You can get a lot of seedlings.

Action algorithm

1. Mix sand and peat in equal amounts.
2. Sow the seeds in the substrate. Create a “greenhouse” using polyethylene or glass.
3. Maintain a temperature of + 20 ° C, ventilate seedlings, do not allow the soil to dry out.
4. When the first leaves appear, dive.
5. Seedlings that have reached 5 cm are ready for transplanting into a permanent flowerpot. It is better to plant about four sprouts in one container - so the bush will be lush.

Why loses decorativeness

Although tradescantia is a hardy and unpretentious plant, but it may happen that it begins to lose its decorative effect. The unsightly appearance of the plant is a sign of insufficient care.Look for the reason, then you can quickly solve the problem: just fix your omission, and the "pet" will appreciate the luxurious appearance. Common problems and their causes can be found in the table.

Table - Problems associated with the loss of decorativeness, and their causes

Diseases and Pests

Tradescantia is disease resistant. The main ailment of the plant is root rot. The disease occurs with regular overflows. It is important to properly water the plant, drain the water from the pan. If root rot is detected in time, removed rotted parts of the root system, transplanted flower and optimize the process of moistening the soil, then the "pet" will be saved.

Tradescantia can be attacked by pests. They can not always be seen immediately. However, the appearance of the plant will tell about the problem. What insects can settle on a flower, what their “activity” leads to, what treatment will be effective - the table will tell.

Table - Insects: signs of infection and control methods

It’s not difficult to figure out how to care for the tradescantia. It is worth making friends with a flower, because it perfectly cleans the air in the room. The plant is credited with a lot of useful properties. Buddhist monks used to grow a flower as healing. They believed that the plant accelerates the healing process of wounds. The plant is actively used in folk medicine: it treats diarrhea, tonsillitis, runny nose and diabetes mellitus.

Reviews: "Why I love her"

Since childhood, I love climbing plants. Tradescantia is known to everyone and many, it seems to me, associate it with their grandmother) I have one too) Grandmother told me the name of this flower and since then I love it very much) The plant seems to be unpretentious, although it didn’t bloom. It is very beautiful, especially if it grows not in bright light, but in a slightly shaded place. Then the leaves become bright and silvery overflows are especially noticeable. If you take the shoot from a healthy plant, the flower very quickly gives root. I accidentally broke off a couple of branches when I rearranged the flower and it took root in the water in just a few days. It grows well in my kitchen, but I had to rearrange it, because I removed the cupboard and now I have nowhere to put it down. Now she is standing in the bedroom, I will watch her. I want to warn beginner gardeners that it is extremely fragile. You need to be very careful with her.I also like the fact that if you find her “her place”, then you will notice her growth literally every day or two. I love this flower, although it is not exotic.

Nimeria___, https://irecommend.ru/content/krasavitsa-umnitsa-khrupkaya-dama

The tradescantia appeared at me just during the general hobby of fellow gardeners with new overseas plants that became available to us. Ie 15 years ago. The first appeared tradescantia with striped red-silver leaves. But our relationship did not work out Sad. Further, someone begged several sprouts of the most ordinary - green. For many years she has been making me happy. The plant is unpretentious and does not require special care. Since this is a fast-growing plant, I feed it almost all year round. For a year, it grows in a huge thick hat up to one and a half meters long. One by one! annual rejuvenation is necessary, the sooner the better. I rejuvenate with cuttings. I cut the cuttings somewhere in February - March. At this time, the plant looks very cheerful, but if you do not prune it at this time, then by May the stalks will begin to bare barely, the plant melts decoratively. The cuttings planted in May-July somehow do not have time to properly grow and grow stronger and the tradescantia does not already have such a lively and chic look by winter. I am writing from my own experience. I put the cuttings in water until the roots appear. I plant fifteen in one pot. After planting, I stand for several weeks on the windowsill, so the plant gets stronger, becomes more “juicy." Tradescantia loves the light. I’m growing in a hanging planter opposite the south window. Try and you grow this wonderful raznenie and on long winter evenings it will delight you with an armful of fresh greenery!

Zokci, http://irecommend.ru/content/mnogoletnyaya-lyubimitsa

A flower stands in our bedroom and always attracts the eye with its unexpectedly delicate leaves in this white color. Still, they are somehow unusual, not like everyone else, and it pleases. Tradescantia is growing literally before our eyes (though growth has stopped for the winter). The leaves are quite large, spectacular. Branches, shoves itself, no need to bother with pinching. Literally after a couple of months, 4 small cuttings filled the entire bowl with a mass of greenish-white with a purple tint. It is not on the windowsill, on a rack next to it, in partial shade. But I look at her there quite comfortably. Of course, noticeably - those leaves that are more in the shade have a greener color.

I water it every 2-3 days a little, its root system is superficial, as I read. But even if they forgot to water, the tradescantia does not lose its fresh appearance, like some sissies - it can store moisture for the future, a real Tropicana) I don’t use fertilizers for the tradescantia, I read that she does not like it. It was planted in universal purchased soil - also diluted without problems with sand, with something else. In general, everything is extremely simple. There is no sense in planting this plant in a large deep pot; a flat plate is enough for him. A soil thickness of 5-10 cm is quite enough, and on the surface you are provided with a lush green hat. Propagated easily by cuttings. Moreover, just push them into the ground. Over time, when the lashes stretch and bald too long, it is easy to rejuvenate the tradescantia in this way.

And now minus - the old leaves die off and dry up ugly. So from time to time decorativeness disappears and this is a signal that it is time to rejuvenate the plant. And it's good that it takes root so easily))

KOSCHECHKA-BLACK,http://otzovik.com/review_4713519.html

I met with tradescantia a couple of years ago at work. This plant was given to us in the department, and not in the best condition - the leaves were small (2-3 cm), the tradescantia was dead, the leaves were dry. She stayed with us in this form for a couple of years. This spring, my colleague and I finally decided to transplant her and take a little care of her. We bought land, larger pots, poor plants from pots dug out, and there was nothing except a tangle of roots there, well, maybe a gram of ground. They planted goners in new pots, cut a long "mustache", which they put in a glass of water so that they give roots and they could be planted.Not even a week had passed before our tradescanti started to grow, it was POPPER. The plants are probably ofigel from normal land and large space. Many have this plant with a long mustache, and we prune them and make balls. But while these usasas grew, they did not go down, but stood upside down;) A month later, the old tradescant was unrecognizable - the leaves are large, juicy, it itself is thick and fluffy. We planted the cut branches there too, so it turned out 2 fluffy balls. As a result, I cut myself a tradescantia. Why I love her: The plant does not require much care: you need to water it and sometimes transplant it. Well, if you want a ball, you need to cut it. It looks very nice. Beautiful striped leaves (sometimes with purple stripes, but, as I understand it, this is due to a lack of either light or nutrients). And he has very beautiful leaves shimmer in the sun - like a leaf all in tiny spangles. It reproduces easily and conveniently. You can immediately get yourself a fluffy ball of tradescantia. Usually I cut a few leaves, put them in a glass of water and in less than a week they give roots. Put all this beauty in a pot and you're done. Quickly and do not have to wait until it grows. The result is an ideal plant for those who do not like to bother!

Rudolphic, http://irecommend.ru/content/moe-idealnoe-rastenie